| The organisation of Wimbledon is somewhat | | | | two weeks. |
| complicated. Wimbledon is actually a large number of | | | | When it comes to the actual tournament, matches are |
| tournaments, all being held at the same time, including | | | | played in three sets in every event except the men's, |
| men's and women's singles and doubles events, mixed | | | | where there are five (this is a matter of some |
| doubles, singles and doubles youth tournaments (also | | | | controversy). The tournaments are played as straight |
| split by gender), men's and women's singles contests | | | | knockouts, meaning that you only have to lose one |
| for older players, and wheelchair tennis (doubles only). | | | | match to be eliminated - the winner must, therefore, |
| Most of the tournaments work the same way. | | | | win every match they play in. For this reason, it is not |
| Whether players are allowed into the tournament or | | | | uncommon to see players leave the tournament |
| not is decided by committee, based on current world | | | | unexpectedly early if they have an unlucky draw and |
| rankings (although they may also choose to admit 'wild | | | | end up playing a particularly strong player early on. This |
| card' players with lower rankings than the rest). In | | | | structure also means that while 128 players start the |
| theory, Wimbledon is still a relatively open tournament, | | | | tournament, 64 of them never make it past their first |
| as players who aren't selected this way can enter a | | | | match. |
| qualifying tournament the week before Wimbledon. | | | | To the victor, however, go the spoils. As well as their |
| Unfortunately, no player who has got in by this route | | | | trophies, the winners of the singles tournaments get |
| has ever actually won. | | | | over £600,000, while the winners of the doubles |
| If you're wondering when it's on, the answer is that it | | | | pocket more than £200,000, with the total prize |
| varies, but it'll always start sometime in late June. | | | | money for all entrants exceeding ten million pounds. |
| Wimbledon is over quite quickly, though, only lasting for | | | | |